Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Install Hardiebacker on Concrete Wall

I am installing ¼” Hardiebacker on a bathroom wall. The wall is concrete and I was wondering if I could use an adhesive to install the hardiebacker onto the concrete surface? I’m having a difficult time drilling through the concrete to screw the board in so I’d rather just glue it on. Is this acceptable and if so, what type of adhesive should be used? Thank you for your help!

Are you planning to tile afterwards? Why not tile to the concrete wall directly? (What type of house is this?)

Gluing does not sound like a good choice.

If the concrete surface is not perfect, you can also consider parge the wall before tiling...

Shay

I am planning on tiling afterwards. I live in a condo highrise and everyone I've talked to seems to be of the consensus that I needed to put in backerboard before tiling. I'm not exactly sure what purpose the backerboard would serve other than to provide a good surface for the tile to adhere to and perhaps giving mold resistance?

Will the tiles adhere well to the concrete wall? I'd rather not have to rough up the concrete as that seems like it'd be a lot more work than drilling holes in the concrete.

Are these walls inside a shower or tub surround, or just plain ole bathroom walls?:)

Also is this an exterior wall or an interior fire wall?

No backerboard on the walls. Cement backerboard is never installed on concrete.

If your walls are painted, the paint will have to go, or at least cleaned and scuffed up very well. Are there any cracks in this wall?

These are the walls that surround my tub. Originally, there was just plain greenboard and tile around the tub. I've ripped that off and all that remains is the concrete so it'd definitely not painted. Maybe I'm missing something here?

The wall isn't cracked at all and it's fairly smooth so it sounds like the best option is to just place the tiles directly on the concrete. I was told to use Flexbond as opposed to an "ordinary" thinset?

Thanks for your help so far everyone

there was just plain greenboard and tile around the tub.

So how was the greenboard attached to the block wall? Were there firring strips attached to the block first, then the greenboard?

How is the tub set? Is the flange flush to and anchored to the block wall????

The greenboard was just glued to the concrete and no firring strips were used. It was a real shoddy job they did in there.

the tub is just set flush against the wall with nothing holding it in place...no anchors. I'm planning on just tiling to the flange and then caulking the interface between the tile and the tub.

The way it's normally done.

Attach furring strips to the wall with tapcons or other fasteners. Rigid insulation between the firring strips, then a vapor barrier over the firring strips, then the cement board, then tile.

I assume you know this, but I'll mention it anyway. You cannot glue cement board to a block wall. Cement board must be mechanically fastened.

Are you saying you'll set the tile to the block wall, and caulk between the bottom row of tile and the tub deck? Thats a lotta caulk, and probably not a good plan.

The way it's normally done.

Attach furring strips to the wall with tapcons or other fasteners. Rigid insulation between the firring strips, then a vapor barrier over the firring strips, then the cement board, then tile.

I assume you know this, but I'll mention it anyway. You cannot glue cement board to a block wall. Cement board must be mechanically fastened.

Are you saying you'll set the tile to the block wall, and caulk between the bottom row of tile and the tub deck? Thats a lotta caulk, and probably not a good plan.
I am in a similar situation where my tub has a long wall made of concrete and I am looking to tile that wall. Will fastening the strips to the concrete hold up the weight of the cement boards attached to the strips. The concrete wall is approximately 60" wide, about how many vertical strips should I install?

Thanks

You can attach the strips with tapcons. If the wall is solid, then yes it'll hold the weight, no problem. Attached the strips vertically, every 16" on center.